Carrying out?

[Geoff Hart <ghart -at- videotron -dot- ca>]

Chris Borokowski wondered: <<You might carry out your laundry, but is  
this the best usage we can find for what is done when a command is  
executed? Ex: To carry out the command, click Run. The lights on your  
hard drive will flash as it is formatted.>>

The best solution is to eliminate all vague, non-specific phrasal  
verbs and replace them with a verb that describes the actual action.  
Here: "To format your hard drive, click Run."

If the context is already painfully clear (e.g., the sentence that  
introduces a series of steps says "Perform the following steps to  
format your hard drive"), you can simply eliminate the verb and list  
the steps. The context is clear enough that (in most cases) it does  
not require repetition. The exception is for an obvious situation  
such as providing a warning. For example: "Warning: If you perform  
the next step in this procedure, formatting will begin and all  
information on your hard drive will be erased."

Note that in this example, the message does not just repeat a  
description of the task: it conveys the meaning and consequences of  
the task. That's important, particularly for readers who may not  
understand the task fully.


----------------------------------------------------
-- Geoff Hart
ghart -at- videotron -dot- ca / geoffhart -at- mac -dot- com
www.geoff-hart.com
--------------------------------------------------
Coming soon:  _Effective onscreen editing_ (http://www.geoff-hart.com/ 
home/onscreen-book.htm)

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Create HTML or Microsoft Word content and convert to Help file formats or 
printed documentation. Features include support for Windows Vista & 2007 
Microsoft Office, team authoring, plus more.
http://www.DocToHelp.com/TechwrlList

Now shipping: Help &amp; Manual 4 with RoboHelp(r) import! New editor,
full Unicode support. Create help files, web-based help and PDF in up
to 106 languages with Help &amp; Manual: http://www.helpandmanual.com

---
You are currently subscribed to TECHWR-L as archive -at- web -dot- techwr-l -dot- com -dot- 

To unsubscribe send a blank email to 
techwr-l-unsubscribe -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
or visit http://lists.techwr-l.com/mailman/options/techwr-l/archive%40web.techwr-l.com


To subscribe, send a blank email to techwr-l-join -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com

Send administrative questions to admin -at- techwr-l -dot- com -dot-  Visit
http://www.techwr-l.com/ for more resources and info.